Which lubricant for car door locks? WD40 or not?

[Twentyfour7]

Hi All
The central locking has gone on my VW and I have been using the manual key. Unfortunately the door locks have become quite stiff and so I was wondering what is the best lubricant to use on the door car locks?
When I google, some say WD40 is okay others says do not to use WD40 on car locks
Any advice would be appreciated
Thanks

[Krikkit]

Officially graphite powder is the correct stuff to use on locks.

I wouldn't use WD40 unless they were frozen, it's water displacement fluid not a permanent fluid.

Practically speaking any spray grease would be fine, as long as it's waterproof and not too thick. In the past I've used a little blob of engine oil on the key blade and that's worked for years.

[RizzoTheRat]

Silicone or PTFE, although as above Graphite tends to be recommended by Locksmiths. The problem with oils is they tend to attract dust and grit.

[POIDH]

You can buy wee bottles of graphite from house lock folk. I have one and have used it on house lock and our old Galaxy locks which became stiff after the central locking went to pot....

[cobra kid]

I'll second/third the graphite route. We have some for our front door lock as specified by the manufacturer. It's a bit weird to administer but works wonderfully.

[MarkJS]

GT85. I don't think I'd use WD40 on anything these days.

[Sebring440]

MarkJS said:

GT85. I don't think I'd use WD40 on anything these days.

GT85! Gosh there's a name from the past! Smells nice, is it still available? Does much the same as WD40 to be fair.

[thegreenhell]

I've used white silicone grease with success in the past. WD40 will eventually just end up as a sticky mess.

[Scrump]

I second white silicone grease

[100SRV]

MarkJS said:

GT85. I don't think I'd use WD40 on anything these days.

Another vote for this, you want a non-tacky lubricant "so it doesn't attract dust" ;-) or rather the dust doesn't stick to the lubricant :-)

[Pica-Pica]

Certainly not WD40. I have never had to use any lubricant in a car door lock, even on cars that I have had for 19 years. In or on any house door lock. I have used lithium sprays for padlocks ( for sheds, etc.).

[CorradoTDI]

Twentyfour7 said:

Hi All
The central locking has gone on my VW and I have been using the manual key. Unfortunately the door locks have become quite stiff and so I was wondering what is the best lubricant to use on the door car locks?
When I google, some say WD40 is okay others says do not to use WD40 on car locks
Any advice would be appreciated
Thanks

You want the proper spray from VW - I've had mine for 10 years and it also contains antifreeze.

See below but buy from VW as it will be far cheaper - was around a fiver when I got mine.

G 052 778 A2

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/154887443598

Edited by CorradoTDI on Tuesday 28th November 22:09

[RizzoTheRat]

Sebring440 said:

GT85! Gosh there's a name from the past! Smells nice, is it still available? Does much the same as WD40 to be fair.

WD40 leaves a film of oil, GT85 leaves a film of PTFE in silicon. In theory the former will attract dust and gunk, the latter won't.

[Bainbridge]

I used a drop of motor oil and wiped off the excess.

Edit: I'm an idiot, I thought op meant the hinges were stiff. +1 for graphite, a carpenters pencil rubbed on the key a few times gets graphite in the keyway.

Edited by Bainbridge on Wednesday 29th November 17:22

[E-bmw]

As others have said above oils/greases etc will obviously leave the potential for oil/grease residue where you don't want it so graphite dry lock lubricant is the only real answer.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/134481665674?epid=19034...

[Pica-Pica]

Bainbridge said:

I used a drop of motor oil and wiped off the excess.

Edit: I'm an idiot, I thought op meant the hinges were stiff. +1 for graphite, a carpenters pencil rubbed on the key a few times gets graphite in the keyway.

Edited by Bainbridge on Wednesday 29th November 17:22

I have used the pencil sometime in the past - grade B

[tux850]

Pica-Pica said:

I have used the pencil sometime in the past - grade B

Not sure if you're being serious, but joking aside pencil lead is not a good source of graphite because it also contains large amounts of clay which does not make a good lubricant.

[Twentyfour7]

Thanks for advice everyone I think I will try graphite powder
It is hard to get hold off though , will probably have to get from Amazon

[E-bmw]

Twentyfour7 said:

Thanks for advice everyone I think I will try graphite powder
It is hard to get hold off though , will probably have to get from Amazon

Not at all hard to get hold of.

B & Q
https://www.diy.com/departments/home-secure-graphi...

Amazon.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/s?k=lock+lubricant&cr...

Ebay.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_t...

Joe Bloggs hardware.

And pretty much any D/G sales place in the world.

[Twentyfour7]

All 3 above require postage not stocked by the 6 diy stores I called